Microsoft SVP Yusuf Mehdi said: “We remain deeply committed to delivering Bing around the world and we’re also committed to offering locally relevant experiences – like Baidu in China – to provide great Windows 10 experiences.”

Mehdi’s remarks suggest that Microsoft will form more local alliances, and this is supported by ongoing cooperation between the US firm and Chinese device manufacturer Xiaomi, which is currently running trials for Windows 10 on its mobile devices.

The Microsoft deals are significant given the common perception among US tech firms that they are excluded from the Chinese market. During his visit to the US, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for the issue to be addressed, but also for the US to reduce restrictions on civilian IT exports to China.

Li also called for the US to facilitate Chinese investment in the market, with firms such as Huawei feeling ‘frozen out’ by the US government in the same way that American firms have seen their attempts to break into China stymied.